Regional Safe Schools Program
The Regional Safe School Program (RSSP)
serves expulsion-eligible or expelled (and then re-admitted
for
administrative transfer to RSSP) and suspension-eligible
or suspended students in grades 6-12. The statewide program
began serving Illinois students in FY97 as established by
105 ILCS 5/13A of the Illinois School Code providing a system
of alternative education programs for disruptive students.
Because
of the actions of a small number of disruptive students,
local school districts face increasing problems in maintaining
a safe environment for all students. Expelling or suspending
disruptive students puts them on the street, which may increase
safety and advance the learning environment inside the school
premises, but does not serve the educational needs of the
expelled or suspended students or the community’s need
for public safety. The purpose of RSSP is twofold: 1) to
increase safety and promote the learning environment in schools
and 2) to meet the particular educational needs of disruptive
students more appropriately and individually in alternative
educational environments.
In its first short (8-month) year
(FY97), the RSSP went from planning stages to the development
of program sites across
the state of Illinois and served 1,325 students. In FY
2007 over 5,000 students were served by RSSP. Currently,
there
are over 100 RSSP program sites in Illinois in urban, suburban
and rural areas of the state.
The RSSP has 48 grants representing
44 Regional Offices of Education (ROEs), three Intermediate
Service Centers
(ISCs)
in Suburban Cook County and the Chicago Public Schools.
Grantees may run the RSSP programs or contract with local
school districts
or with third parties to run the programs. Individual
programs may serve students in grades 6-12 or any combination
of
grades 6-12 based upon local needs and decision-making
by the ROEs
and local school districts.
The RSSP has a set of guidelines,
based upon best practices for alternative programs. Each
student has an Individualized
Optional Education Plan (IOEP) and positive outcomes
include: reduction in disruptive behavior, regular
attendance, coursework
completion and credit received advancement in grade
level, return to home school, grammar or high school graduation
and where appropriate completing a program leading
to
taking the GED test and passing the GED. Behavior modification
training and other counseling, life skills training,
community
service,
and work-based learning experiences are aspects of
RSSP. Computerized learning systems may supplement the primary
academic instruction or may be used as the primary
method
of instruction.
 FY 2009 Regional Safe Schools Program (RSSP) Continuation Application (Due May 23, 2008) 
FY 2008 Regional
Safe Schools Program (RSSP) Budget Amendment Forms
Regional Safe Schools
Program Student Data Reporting Manual FY07-11
Illinois
Regional Safe Schools Program Annual Evaluation Reports
Regional Safe School's
Program Directory
Links:
Illinois
Compiled Statutes Alternative Public Schools Act
"A
Guide to Safe Schools" from the U. S. Department
of Education. |
